The cover gives the impression that this book is a climbing adventure. And it is that, but also so much more.
The cover gives the impression that this book is a climbing adventure. And it is that, but also so much more.
The book tells the tale of a father and son on a trip of a lifetime to climb a mountain in Peru. Both the scenery and culture in Peru are described incredibly well, which really helps bring both elements to life. And yes there's a dramatic incident on the climb, the tension leading up to the incident and the aftermath is built well and keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens.
But more than that this book really explores the complicated relationship between father and son and just how much of an impact this relationship has on both of their lives. The narrative comes from both character perspectives and let's us in on how both are feeling about each other, themselves and their relationship. Ultimately highlighting the importance of this relationship to both of them.
There's some really interesting and thought provoking moments in this book around how happiness and success are defined, and how the measures of both can be different in different cultures.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and would recommend.
High altitude adventure and strained parental bonds make for a thrilling tale
Dawnay sets his debut novel in Huaraz, the Switzerland of Peru, a world renowned centre for trekking and climbing. With disparate levels of excitement and trepidation, father and teenage son, James and Jonno, embark on a challenging journey to conquer one of the Andes' most difficult peaks. In the process the pair hope to bridge the chasm that has slowly developed between them. Under prepared and tetchy the pair at first struggle with the physical and emotional demands of the trip. The tale barrels along building tension as their fatigue and frustration grow. Along their path a range of local characters add new perspectives and help to build a colourful picture of Peru’s rich culture. For Jonno, the trip is a coming of age experience. For James, it provides a much needed opportunity to reflect and reset his priorities. Hair raising experiences, including a high speed taxi journey into the centre of Lima and a high altitude crisis, are convincingly conveyed. The poverty, pace and priorities of life in the Andes are finely contrasted against the pair's comfortable suburban background. The reader is introduced to the eccentricity of Latin American travel and to the skills necessary for high altitude climbing. Dawnay has cleverly interwoven relationship tensions into an exciting adventure yarn and raised important points about the essence of winning, success and parental love.